THE Scottish Government has announced action on council tax – and has started canvassing for views on changing the system.
Reforming Scotland’s council tax system has been on the SNP agenda since before the party first took power in the 2007 Holyrood elections. However, finding consensus has proved difficult and the issue has remained unaddressed.
In the party’s 2021 Holyrood manifesto, it said the SNP were “committed” to reforming council tax “to make it fairer,” and said a citizens’ assembly would be convened to discuss the route forward.
Now, the Scottish Government has said that expert independent analysis will be commissioned to “provide high level analysis and modelling on alternative scenarios and reforms of the system”.
It has also called for public views on the issue ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate on the proposed reforms.
The Government further said that as part of a joint programme with local authority body Cosla, independent analysis will be commissioned “to examine the council tax system accounting for market changes, reforms, and improvements”.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “Partnering with Cosla, we want to examine ways to make council tax fairer, which will help to continue to deliver better public services across Scotland.
“By working closely with local authorities and listening to the public, we will be seeking a consensus on a local taxation system that is fairer, financially sustainable and fits a modern Scotland.”
Colsa resources spokesperson councillor Katie Hagmann said: “Local authorities wish to see a fair and proportionate council tax, which benefits people and communities.
“Cosla is looking forward to working with the Scottish Government on a programme of engagement with the public, with the shared goal of achieving a better, fairer system of local taxation.”
Council tax is also currently levied based on “bands”, with more expensive properties in higher bands. However, as many as half of all Scottish properties are thought to be in the wrong bands.
Common Weal’s head of policy Craig Dalzell previously told The National that reforming council tax could see lower bills for as many as eight in 10 Scots, in part due to incorrect banding.
The University of Glasgow’s Professor Ken Gibb, the director of the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence, has suggested that proportionate property tax (PPT) could replace council tax.
Oxfam are campaigning with Tax Justice Scotland for council tax reform.
Lewis Ryder-Jones, Oxfam Scotland’s advocacy adviser, said: “Council tax is enormously unfair and absurdly outdated: people’s homes were last valued over 30 years ago, before the Scottish Parliament even existed.
"That’s why Tax Justice Scotland, a campaign backed by over 50 organisations, is calling for modern, nationwide property and land valuations as a first step towards replacing the council tax with a fairer alternative.
"We’ve already had nearly two decades of dilly-dallying: instead of more discussions and delays it’s time for Ministers to start delivering by laying out a roadmap to real reform.”
